Reversible left and right hand holster



May 24, 1966 n. s. ROLSTON ETAL 3,252,638

REVERSIBLE LEFT AND RIGHT HAND HOLSTER Filed July 22, 1964 INVENTORS DAVID S. ROLSTON ROGELIO MOLINA United States Patent 3,252,638 REVERSIBLE LEFT AND RIGHT HAND HOLSTEII David S. Rolston, Pittsford, and Rogelio Molina, Fan-- port, N.Y., assignors to Crosman Arms Company, Inc, Fairport, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 22, 1964, Ser. No. 384,380

10 Claims. (Cl. 224-2) This invention relates to holsters for pistols.

The ordinary pistol holster is made to be worn either on the right or on the left side of the wearer, but a given holster cannot be worn selectively on either side; it can only be worn on one side or the other. Heretofore, therefore, it has been necessary to make separate holsters for wear on the right or left hand sides. To carry two pistols, moreover, it has been necessary to purchase two different types of holsters-one which is designed specifically for left-hand draw, and the other designed specifically for right-hand draw. Thus, the manufacturers costs are increased; and a retailer must also maintain an expensive inventory of holsters.

It is an object of this invention to provide a reversible holster which may be worn with equal effectiveness, on either the right-hand side or the left-hand side of the wearer.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved holster which may be worn on either the righthand or the left-hand side, and which will have proper draw position regardless of the side upon which it is A still further object of this invention is to provide a holster, which is relatively simple in construction and inexpensive and which can readily and quickly be converted from a right-hand to a left-hand holster, or vice versa.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a reversible right and left hand holster made in accordance with one em bodiment of this invention, the holster being shown as it looks when suspended for a right hand draw;

FIG. 2 is a view showing this holster as mounted for a left hand draw;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with the gun supporting pouch removed from the holster pallet; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with the pistol supporting pouch removed from the holster pallet.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, two identical pieces of stiff leather are sewed back to back, with their smooth sides out, to form a holster pallet. This pallet is adapted to be suspended from a belt at either the right or left hip of the wearer. The pistol pouch itself is removably secured to one face of the pallet when the holster is to be worn at a persons left side, and to the other face when the holster is worn at the right side. For fastening the pouch to the pallet there is a leather strap securedintermediate its ends between the two pieces of leather which form the pallet. Male and female snap fasteners are secured at both ends of this strap. Thereby the ends of the strap may be removably fastened together over the lower end of the pouch to hold it securely against one or the other of the smooth pallet faces. Adjacent its upper end the pouch is provided at opposite'sides thereof with snap fasteners for securing the upper end of the pouch removably to a cooperating snap fastener secured to each face of the pallet. Both the upper and lower ends of the pouch may thus be fastened removably to either face of the pallet; or the pouch may be carried separately from the pallet, as desired. The two pieces of leather that form the pallet are of identical shape and are so formed that regardless of which side of the pallet is out, when the holster is suspended from the wearers belt, the pistol pouch will be held in a position for quick draw of the pistol from the pouch. Slots are provided in the pallet through which the wearers belt may be passed for carrying the holster therefrom.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, 10 denotes the holster pallet and 11 designates the pistol pouch. The pallet is made by stitching as denoted at S, or otherwise securing together, two identi cal strips 12 and 13 (FIG. 3) of heavy, stiff leatherso that their smooth, finished sides face outwardly. The leather piece 12 is cut with its lower portion 12" disposed at approximately 45 to its upper portion 12'; and the leather piece 13 is similarly cut, that is, with its lower portion 13" disposed at approximately 45 to its upper portion 13'. Thus, regardless of whether the pallet is suspended at the right side or at the left side of the wearer, it will hold the pistol pouch for quick draw of the pistol therefrom. Adjacent its upper end, the pallet is provided with a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending slots 14 by means of which the holster pallet is adapted to be suspended from a gunbelt B or the like.

Secured back to back to the smooth, outside faces of the leather strips 12 and 13 of the pallet adjacent the front or leading edge of the latter are two female snap fasteners 15 and 16, respectively (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5).

Secured intermediate its ends between the leather strips 12 and 13 adjacent the lower end of pallet 10, and extending at opposite ends thereof beyond the forward and rear edges of the pallet, is a flexible strap 21. Strap 21 comprises two identical strips of leather 22 and 23 (FIG.

3), which are stitched or otherwise secured together with their finished, smooth surfaces facing outwardly. Secured to opposite ends of the strap 21, and projecting outwardly from the smooth faces of the strips 22 and 23, respectively, are a pair of female snaps 24- and 25. Also secured to strap 21 at points spaced slightly inwardly from snaps 24 and 24, and facing outwardly from the strips 22 and 23, respectively, are a pair of male snaps 26 and 27. The snaps 24 and 26 face in a direction opposite to that of the snaps 25 and 27 so that the strap 21- may be secured either over the face of the piece 12 of the pallet (FIG. 1), or over the face of piece 13 (FIG. 2).

Slidable in a slot 31 (FIGS. 4 and 5), which extends through the pallet 10 at a point spaced slightly rearwardly of the female snaps 1S and 16 is a further strap 32. Secured to one end of strap 32 to engage removably with one of the female snaps 15 or 16 on the pallet 10' is a male snap 33 (FIG. 3). Secured to the opposite end of strap 32, and projecting from the same face of the strap as snap 33, is a female snap 34-. Snap 34 is adapted to engage selectively one of a pair of aligned male snaps 35 and 36 (FIG. 3), respectively, which project from opposite sides of the pouch 11.

In use, assuming that the holster is to be mounted on the right hip of the wearer-i.e., for a right-hand draw, the male snap 36 of the pouch 11 is snapped into the female snap 15 carried by side 12 of the pallet; and the strap 32 is extended through the slot 31 in the pallet, as shown in FIG. 4, and its male snap 33 (FIG. 3) is secured to the female snap 16 carried at side 13 of the pallet. The strap 21 is then folded over the pouch; and the female and male snaps 24 and 26 are engaged with the male and female snaps 27 and 25, respectively. A piston (not illustrated) is then inserted barrel down into the pouch 11; and the free end of the strap 52 is passed over the piston and secured in place by snapping the female snap 34 over the male snap 35 of the pouch 11.

The belt B may then be threaded through the slots 14 of the pallet to suspend the holster at the wearers right hip. The strap 32 is merely to prevent the pistol from accidentally falling out of the pouch 11. This strap must be released when the pistol is to be carried at the ready position, so'lthat it can quickly be Withdrawn from the holster. v

To assemble the holster for a left-hand draw (FIGS. 2 and 5) the pouch 11 is secured onthe side 13 of the pallet by inserting the male snap 35 into the female snap 16 on the pallet. Strap 21 is then folded in the opposite direction from that shown in FIG. 1 so that it folds over the pouch 11 with the snaps 25 and 27 engaging the snaps 26 and 24, respectively (FIG. '2). Strap 32 is here reversed from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4; and here its snap 33 engages in the female snap on strip 12 of the pallet. The opposite end of strap 32 projects through the slot 31 in the pallet (FIG. 5), and is adapted to pass around the pistol (not illustrated) carried in the pouch 1-1, and to be secured by its snap 34 to the snap 36 on the pouch 11.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that applicants have provided a relatively simple and inexpensive holster which can be worn for, either a right or a left-hand draw. Applicants novel holster eliminates the need for manufacturing and inventorying two distinct types of holsters, one of which is usable for left-hand draw only, and the other of which is usable for right-hand draw only. Moreover, if a right-hand shooter should happen to be injured in his right arm, he can always shift the novel holster to the left hand side of his body for use with his left hand. In addition, regardless of which side the holster is mounted upon (right or left), the angular inclination of the lower half of the pallet 10 is slightly rearwardly relative to the upper half of the pallet, whereby the holster maintains the gun in a properly tipped position for a quick draw. An additional advantage of applicants novel holster is the fact that the pouch 11 may be, removed from the pallet and carried separately in ones pocket, if for some reason it is desirable not to use the holster pallet.

While it ispreferred that the holster be made of leather, it is to be understood that plastic material may be utilized instead,

I While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, then, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is .intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art :to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A reversible right and left hand holster, comprising (a) a gun pouch open at one end thereof to receive the barrel of a pistol,

(b) a pallet disposed outside said pouch or suspending said pouch adjacent a persons hip, and

(c) cooperating means on said pallet and on said pouch respectively, for removably securing said pouch selec tively to one and to the other outside surface, respectively, of said pallet so that an outside surface of said pallet is out regardless to which side of said pallet said pouch is secured.

2. A reversible right and left hand holster, comprising (a) a gun pouch open at one end thereof to receive the barrel of a pistol,

(b) a pallet disposed outside said pouch for suspending said pouch adjacent a persons hip, comprising (c) a pair of identically shaped pieces of leather secured together with their rough, unfinished sides abutting, and their finished, smooth sides facing outwardly, and I p ('d) means on said pallet for removably securing said pouch selectively to one and to the other, respectively, of said smooth sides of said pallet so that a smooth side of said pallet is out regardless to which side of it said pouch is secured.

3. A reversible left and right hand holster comprising (a) a gun pouch open at one end thereof to receive the barrel of a pistol,

(b) a pallet for suspending said pouch adjacent a persons hip, comprising p p (c) a pair of identically shaped pieces of leather secured together with their. rough, unfinished sides abutting, and their finished, smooth sides facing outwardly, i Y

((1) means on said pallet for removably securing said pouch selectively to one and the other, respectively, of said smooth sides of said pallet, and

(e) a flexible strap secured intermediate, its ends between said pieces of leathen said, strap comprising (f) two further strips of leather secured together with their smooth sides out. p

4. A reversible right and left hand holster, comprising a s p ns f r old n a, pistol,

(b) a pallet having therethrough a pair of spaced,

parallel slots to accommodate a gun belt for, suspending the palletover a persons hip,;said pallet comprising two identical pieces of leather secured .back to backwith their finished, smooth sides out, and

(c) m e'an s for removably securing said pouch interchangeably against one and the other side, respectively, of said pallet, inclu ding (d) a strap secured intermediate its ends between said two pieces of said pallet, and V (e) means for securing opposite ends of saidstrap together over said pouch, said strap comprising two further pieces of leathersecured back to back with their finished, smooth sides out, the. lower half of said pallet beingangularly offset slightly from the upper half thereof to suspend said pouch in a quick draw position regardless of which finished side of the pallet isout. v j 5. A reversible right andleft hand holster, comprising (a) a gun pouch for holding a pistol,

(b) a pallet adapted to be removably secured ,at one end thereof to a gun belt for suspension selectively at a persons right and left side, respectively, 7

(c) a first strap secured to said pallet adjacent the other end thereof and foldableoversaid pouch and selectively around one and the other side, respectively, of said pallet to secure said pouch thereagainst,

(d) a second strap for releasably securing a pistol in said pouch, when the latter is secured to one side of said pallet, v V

( e) means for releasably securing one end of said second strap to the side of said pallet remote from said pouch, and

(f) means for releasably securing ,the opposite end of said second strap around a pistol disposed in said pouch, and to the side of the pouch remote from said pallet,

(g) said second strap intermediate its ends passing removably through a slot in saidpallet.

6. A reversible right and left hand holster, comprising (a) a gun pouch for holding a pistol,

(b) two identical snap-fasteners secured to opposite sides of said pouch adjacent its upper end,

(c) a pallet adapted to be removably secured at one end thereof to a gunbelt for suspension thereby adjacent a persons right or left side, respectively,

(d) two identical snap-fasteners secured to opposite sides, respectively, of said pallet intermediate the ends thereof, one of the two second-named fasteners being detachably engageable with one of the two first-named fasteners to fasten said pouch against one side of the pallet, and the other of said two secondnamed fasteners being detachably engageable with the other of said two first-named fasteners to fasten said pouch against the other side of said pallet, and

(e) a strap secured to said pallet adjacent the other end thereof to fold over and secure said pouch selectively against said one and said other side of said pallet.

7. A reversible right and left hand holster as defined in claim 6, including (a) a second strap extending through a slot in said pallet, and adapted to be secured across the top of said pouch to secure a pistol therein, and

(b) two snap-fasteners secured, respectively, to opposite ends of said second strap, one of the third-named two snap-fasteners detachably engageable with the other of said second two fasteners, and the other of said third-named fasteners being detachably engageable with the other of said first two fasteners, when said pouch is secured against said one side of said pallet,

(c)said second strap being reversible to engage said one of said third two fasteners with said one of said second two fasteners, and to engage said other of said third two fasteners with said one of said first two fasteners, when said pouch is secured on said other side of said pallet.

8. A reversible right and left hand holster as defined in claim 6 wherein (a) said pallet comprises a pair of identical pieces of leather secured back to back with their smooth, finished sides facing outwardly, and

(b) the first-named strap is secured intermediate its ends between the backs of said pieces of leather, and comprises (c) a pair of elongate strips of leather secured back to back with their smooth, finished sides facing outwardly.

9. A reversible right and left hand holster as defined in claim 6 wherein (a) said pallet has two parallel slots therethrough adjacent said one end thereof to accommodate a gun belt for suspending the pallet at a persons side with said slots extending generally vertically, and

(b) said pallet is shaped so that said other end thereof is slightly angularly ofiset from the vertical, and disposed rearwardly relative to said one end of the pallet.

10. A reversible holster as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first-named strap has two longitudinally-spaced snapfasteners at both ends, the snap fasteners at one end being adapted to mate with the snap-fasteners at the opposite end of the strap to fasten the strap around said pouch regardless of the side of said pallet to which said pouch is fastened.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A REVERSIBLE RIGHT AND LEFT THE HAND HOLSTER, COMPRISING (A) A GUN POUCH OPEN AT ONE END THEREOF TO RECEIVE THE BARREL OF A PISTOL, (B) A PALLET DISPOSED OUTSIDE SAID POUCH OR SUSPENDING SAID POUCH ADJACENT A PERSON''S HIP, AND (C) COOPERATING MEANS ON SAID PALLET AND ON SAID POUCH RESPECTIVELY, FOR REMOVABLY SECURING SAID POUCH SELECTIVELY TO ONE AND TO THE OTHER OUTSIDE SURFACE, RESPECTIVELY, OF SAID PALLET SO THAT AN OUTSIDE SURFACE OF SAID PALLET IS OUT REGARDLESS TO WHICH SIDE OF SAID PALLET SAID POUCH IS SECURED. 